One thing I advocate is the idea of that an artist can make a living without a major label deal. The next best thing would be take the risk on an Indie label, that’s if you can get signed. So Wednesday on WPLN Nashville’s local NPR affiliate a story aired about Little Big Town and their recent success.
Working the Music Industry in Nashville every spring you can see at CRS (Country Radio Seminar) the labels rolling out the newly signed acts. All polished up and shiny, a few years ago it was Little Big Town on SonyBMG. Now I don’t claim to be a A & R rep but I know what I like and can determine bull shit when I see it. What Sony had done to Little Big Town was throw away almost everything that got them signed. I reminds me of the conversation with a drunk A & R rep from a few weeks ago, he said (paraphrasing) “After they (artists) are signed we change them…” Again, I don’t think labels know how to market artists that don’t fit into the pop country model.
So when I heard the WPLN story they explained what I had been thinking. The first time around I thought they were fake, a joke but when Little Big Town returned it was real. I can say they gained me as a fan.
Via WPLN:
Little Big Town: It’s common in the recording industry for artist to graduate from independent labels to major labels before they have a shot at national hits. But country band Little Big Town did it backwards. Their debut release on Sony Nashville failed commercially and critically. But in 2006, the band found success on Equity Records, thanks in part to the belief of an executive who made a similar journey. WPLN’s Craig Havighurst reports.
Aired February 7, 2007 Visit WPLN.org for story audio | View the transcript
I’m making you go to WPLN website because linking right to the audio would be stealing. Support your local NPR station right?
Technorati Tags: record label, country radio seminar, music, little big town, craig havighurst, equity records, sonybmg
